Bihar Boat Tragedy: 13 Children Dead After Boat Capsizes in Ganga River in Vaishali (Videos)

At least 13 children have died after a boat carrying passengers capsized in the Ganga River in Bihar’s Vaishali district on Tuesday night, October 13. The accident occurred near Rampur Shyamchand village in the Raghopur area when the passengers were reportedly travelling to attend a feast in a neighbouring village. Seven people were rescued and taken to hospital, while three to four others were reported missing in the latest reports available. Search and rescue operations are underway.

Bihar Boat Accident: What Happened in Vaishali?

The incident took place at around 8:30 pm in the Raghopur Diara area, under the jurisdiction of Raghopur police station. According to preliminary reports, the passengers were travelling by boat to attend a feast when the vessel overturned midstream. Minors Among 11 Killed After Boat Capsizes in Bihar; Rescue Op Underway.

The number of people aboard the boat remains unclear, with initial reports suggesting that more than 20 people were on board. Local accounts indicated that the boat may have lost its balance while crossing the river. The exact cause of the accident is yet to be established.

Rescue Operations Underway, Several People Missing

District authorities, police personnel and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams were deployed to the accident site following the incident. Local divers and residents also assisted in the search for survivors and missing passengers.

Vaishali District Magistrate Varsha Singh confirmed that 13 children aged 15 or below had died. Seven people were rescued and taken to hospital, with officials reporting that their condition was stable. However, reports published overnight differed on the number of people still missing, and the final casualty count may be updated as the search continues. Bihar Boat Capsize Video: Several Labourers Feared Missing After Boat Overturns in River Ganga in Bhagalpur.

Bihar Boat Tragedy

CM Samrat Choudhary Announces Compensation

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed grief over the loss of lives and announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹4 lakh to the family of each deceased person. He also directed officials to expedite rescue operations and ensure proper medical treatment for the injured.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed condolences over the tragedy. He announced financial assistance of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each deceased person and ₹50,000 for those injured in the incident.

Tejashwi Yadav Expresses Grief Over Boat Tragedy

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Raghopur MLA Tejashwi Yadav expressed grief over the incident and said he had spoken to district officials regarding rescue and relief efforts. He urged the administration to deploy additional rescue teams and ensure medical assistance for those affected.

Yadav also said he would visit Raghopur after reaching Patna on Wednesday. The incident has renewed concerns over passenger safety on river crossings, particularly when boats are operating at night. The authorities are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident as rescue operations continue.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 14, 2026 07:43 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).